Frank p



V(No Model.)

- P. P. PPLEGHAR.

BRAKE LEVER,

Patented A,11g.1 5, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FRANK P. PFLEGHAR, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ENGLISH dr MERSICK, OF SAME PLACE.

BRAKE-LEVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,385, dated August 15, 1893.

Application filed May 1,1893. Serial No. 472,471. (No model.)

To au whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. PELEGHAP., of New Haven,in the county of New Ilaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvenient in Brake-Levers; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description ot' the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure l, a view in side elevation of a brakelever constructed in accordance with my invention, and shown as combined with a segmental rack; Fig. 2, a View of the same parts in vertical central section.

My invention relates to an improvement in levers for carriage-brakes, the object being to produce a compact and convenient device in which the spring-actuated pawl cooperating with the segmental rack ofthe brake, is housed within the upperend of the lever, and thus protected, and obscured from view.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a segmental rack A, of ordinary construction, and designed to be fixed to the frame-work of a carriage, or other vehicle, in the usual manner. With this rack I employ a brakelever, which is hung to swing on a fulcrum or center, considerably below it. As herein shown, I have represented only the upper portion B, of the said lever, and no more is necessary, for the lower portion of it is of ordinary construction, and is generally made by a black-smith, while the portion ot the brake shown is of higher finish, and supplied to the trade, the upper portion B, shown, being Welded to the lower portion, in the ordinary manner, well known to all skilled in this art. The upper portion B, of the lever, is constructed about midway of its length, with a transverse slot C, through which the segmental rack A, passes, and which is intersected by the lower end oi' a longitudinal chamber D, circular in transverse section, and extending thence through the top of the portion B of the lever. This chamber receives the pawl E, the nose of which engages with the teeth of the rack A, the said pawl being constructed with a stem E, which projects out ot' the chamber D, and beyond the top of the portion B of the lever. The projecting end of the said stem is constructed with a head F', by means of which it is connected with a hand-lever G, secured by a horizontal pin or pivot H, to alug or arm I, offsetting from the upper end of the portion 13,01? thelever. AspiralspringJ,cncirclingthe stem E, and located within the chamber D, abuts at its lower end against the upper end of the pawl E,while its upper end abuts against the lower end of a sleeve K, inserted into the upper end ot the chamber D, forming a bearing for the stem F, and secured in place by means of a transverse pin L, which enters a socket formed in part in the lever, and in part in the periphery of the sleeve. It will be understood that when the hand-lever G is depressed, the pawl will be lifted against the force ot the spring J, and its nose disengaged from the teeth of the rack A, after which the lever may be swung back and forth with respect to the rack, as desired. .I ust as soon as the hand-lever is relieved of pressure, however, the spring J, restores the pawl to engage ment with the teeth of the rack. It will be observed that the pawl and its spring are concealed, and protected within the chambered upper portion of the lever, with an obvious gain of security and appearance, for heretofore in brake-levers of the kind shown and described the pawl and spring have been con nected with the upper end of the lever, but located outside of the same, where they were not only liable to be deranged, but also presented a clumsy and unsightly appearance. Under my improved construction the pawl proper is located entirely within the lever, for although it normally projects into the transverse slot thereof, it does not extend out of the said slot.

It is obvious that in carrying outmy invention, the details of construction shown and described may be departed from; thus, the handlever might be arranged to stand upright, and substantially in line with the brakelever. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but

IOO

hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterationsas f airly fall'within the spirit and scope of my invention. I am aware,how`g` ever, that a chambered brake-lever having a i pawl operated through its inside from its upper end and co-operating with a, .segmentaly rack, is old, and I do not, therefore,claim that:1

. and having a shank projecting out of` the upper end of the same, a sleeve located in the construction broadly.

Havingfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-is- Y' f l. A lever for `carriage-brakes, having a transverse slot', to receivea segmental` rack*` over which the lever moves, and alongitudinal chamber' extending from the upper end ot' the lever down into the said slot, a pawl for engagement with the rack, located in the said chamber, andhaving'a Shank projecting ontI of the upper end thereof,a springlocatedl withinfthe chamber, and .operating upon thev pawl to throwfit toward Ithe rack, and a han-J dle-'lever connected with V,the projectinge-ndf of theshank ofthe pawl, and pvoted to theupper end of the said lever within which the said pawl is entirely located,substantially as described.

t as described.

2. A lever for carriage-brakes, havingy a transverse slot 'formed in `it to receive a seg# mental rack over which the lever moves, and a longitudinal chamber formedin the npper end of the lever, and `at its lower end int-ersecting the said slot, a pawl for engagement with the rack, located inthe said chamber,

upper end of the chamber' and surrounding the shank of the pawly for which it forms a bearinga spring interposed between the pawl and the inner end of the said sleeve, and arranged to move the pawl toward the raclgand a pivotal hand-lever connected with the projecting outer end of the shank of thepawl and pivoted to the said levenwithin which Y thesaid pawlisentirelm "In testimony whereof I havesigned "this specification in the presencefot two subscribing witnesses. i i

FRANK P. PFLEGI-IAR.` i

Vitn'esses: u

F. L; BUGKINGHAM, JOHN MAOKAY.

located snbstanti-ally 

